It’s been two long weeks now that Brian Brobbey has silenced St. James’ Park in the Tyne-Wear Derby, as Sunderland prepare to return to the Premier League after the international break.
In fact, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats would like to follow up that 2-1 win over Newcastle United, with another fixture in the back-to-back, to boost their confidence.
Instead, the Wearside giants will have to wait another week to face relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur, as they try to cement their place in mid-table, in the test phase.
Already, next season will be looking up, with Sunderland 14 points clear of the relegation zone, as other summer signings look to be on their way.
Sunderland are eyeing the Spanish star
It could be another summer of spending at the Premier League club’s front, with five of Sunderland’s most expensive players all joining last year.
Sunderland’s most expensive signing ever
Who added the record for the Black Cats?
Midfielders have certainly been strengthened, with a club-record £27m dropped for the services of Habib Diarra, and £15m spent on Noah Sadiki.
Purchased from France and Belgium respectively, Sunderland could soon enter the Spanish market for Almeria ace Sergio Arribas, according to new reports.
Indeed, reports from Europe, via Sport Witness, suggest that the Black Cats may be interested in snapping up the former Real Madrid youth product, as he is also on AS Roma’s summer shopping list.
Florent Ghisolfi – who is currently Sunderland’s director of football – was a big fan of the 5m7 player when he was hired by Roma, so much so that he revealed that Arribas is being watched by the Serie A side.
Therefore, it is not a question that the Black Cats will join this transfer battle, if Ghisolfi renews this previous interest in the Field of Light, where Le Bris could find another midfielder in the style of Enzo Le Fee.
How can Arribas be another Le Fee
As well as putting their money where their mouth is for Diarra and Sadiki, the Premier League’s new boys splashed £19.3m on Le Fee’s services last summer, after he proved to be the fastest player on Wearside in the Championship.
Le Fee has now reached six goals and seven assists from 51 appearances at the Stadium of Light, as he continues to be key to Sunderland’s attacking presence, whether playing as a left winger, or as a number ten.
Sunderland signing a player of the incredible quality of the Frenchman would have been considered a dream when he was stuck in the EFL.
Now, however, this could be normal, as they try to find another midfielder – previously considered unattainable – in Arribas, as Sunderland could be preparing to fight Roma, to acquire the former Real Madrid talent.
It is clear that Arribas is another diamond in the rough, waiting to be introduced to the Premier League by Le Bris, as was Le Fee, based on his impressive La Liga 2 numbers this season for Almeria, with 20 goals and seven assists to his name in 34 appearances in all competitions.
With a combined 119 goals in all appearances for Almeria and all the way through the youth ranks to the first team at the Santiago Bernabeu, it’s no surprise that his current manager, Rubi, hailed him as a “fantastic” talent.
|
Aribas job numbers by position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Games |
Terms + Help |
|
AM |
101 |
41 + 19 |
|
RW |
58 |
18 + 6 |
|
LW |
16 |
7 + 4 |
|
CM |
10 |
4 + 4 |
|
CF |
2 |
2 + 1 |
|
RM |
2 |
0 + 1 |
|
SS |
1 |
2 + 0 |
|
LM |
1 |
0 |
Capable of playing in many areas, and, to strengthen his similarities with Le Fee, this could prove to be a major deal if Ghisolfi’s previous interest in the 24-year-old player is reassessed.
But, Sunderland will be looking to improve here and there next season to ensure they hang on to the comfort of the Premier League, with Arribas just that little sprinkling of quality, which may be needed, to boost Le Bris’ strong selection.
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